Season 3
Star Trek: The Next Generation

TOMATOMETER

Audience Score

TOMATOMETER

The percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a positive review

AUDIENCE SCORE
95%

Average Rating: Avg Rating:
4.5/5

Total Count: 166

The percentage of users who rated this 3.5 stars or higher.

Rate And Review

Super Reviewer

Verified

Super Reviewer

Verified

Super Reviewer

Rate this season

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of this tv season? (optional)

Super Reviewer

Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified.

By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

Super Reviewer

Rate this season

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of this tv season? (optional)

How did you buy your ticket?

By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

You haven’t finished your review yet, want to submit as-is?

You can always edit your review after.

Are you sure?

Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.

Want to submit changes to your review before closing?

Done Already? A few more words can help others decide if it's worth watching

They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating.

Done Already? A few more words can help others decide if it's worth watching

The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that AMC sent you when you purchased your ticket. Your Ticket Confirmation # is located under the header in your email that reads "Your Ticket Reservation Details". Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number.

Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email.

Episodes

First telecast September 30, 1989, this episode served as the third-season opener for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Ken Jenkins guest stars as Dr. Paul Stubbs, an astrophysicist obsessed with completing his latest mission, that of investigating a strange phenomenon in a faraway star system. Stubbs' dogged refusal to be deflected from his course causes him to ignore a computer malfunction that endangers the Enterprise's life support systems. Michael Piller wrote the teleplay from "Evolution," from a story by Michael Wagner and himself.

Responding from a call from the Sheliak Corporate, the Enterprise crew is confronted by hostile Sheliaks at the Tau Cygna Five earth colony. Citing an old treaty, the Sheliaks demand that the human colonists evacuate the planet within four days or face total annihilation. It is up to Data to persuade the intractable colonists to leave...all 15,000 of them. Originally telecast October 7, 1989, "The Ensigns of Command" was written by Melinda M. Snodgrass.

Arriving too late on a rescue mission, the crew finds that the entire Federation colony of Rana IV has been wiped out, save for an elderly couple, Kevin and Rishon Uxbridge (John Anderson, Anne Haney) living in a tiny patch of green. At first willing to accept the Uxbridge's survival as a miracle, Captain Picard soon begins to suspect that there's more to this than meets the eye. Meanwhile, Deanna Troi, who likewise finds something amiss, is suddenly seized with a mysterious and painful illness. Written by Michael Wagner, "Survivors" was originally aired October 14, 1989.

While studying the culture of the primitive Mintakans, a group of Federation anthropologists are injured in a reactor explosion. Rushing provisions to the anthropologists, Captain Picard unknowingly violates the Prime Directive. As a result, he is feted as a God by the Mintakans, who prepare the hapless Deanna Troi as a sacrifice. First telecast October 21, 1989, "Who Watches the Watchers" was written by Richard Manning and Hans Beimler.

Archaeologist Marla Aster (Susan Powell) is killed during an away team investigation of a deserted planet. Feeling responsible for her death, Lt. Worf tries to offer solace to Marla's now-orphaned young son Jeremy (Gabriel Damon). Things take a bizarre turn when Marla suddenly reappears right before Jeremy's eyes, leading to an amazing revelation about the long-dead civilization Marla had been investigating. Written by Ronald D. Moore, "The Bonding" first aired October 28, 1989.

The away team ventures into an asteroid field to investigate a centuries-old Promelian warship. During their absence, the Enterprise is barraged with radiation, causing the ship to lose its power and be held in the thrall of the same booby trap that had destroyed the ancient warship. With time rapidly running out, Picard and Geordi decide upon a desperate strategy, which will either free the ship or kill everyone on board. Ron Roman, Michael Pillar, and Richard Danus collaborated on the script for "The Booby Trap," which originally aired November 4, 1989.

Answering a distress signal from the Federation planet Galorndon Core, Geordi is trapped in a deep pit. Likewise imprisoned is an injured Romulan warrior (John Snyder), the sole survivor of a starship crash. Though neither man trusts the other, Geordi and the warrior are forced to work together to save themselves from their plight. First telecast November 11, 1989, "The Enemy" was cowritten by David Kemper and Michael Pillar.

Counselor Troi falls in love again, this time with handsome Chrysalian delegate Devinioni Ral (Matt McCoy). Alas, the object of Troi's affections is a double-dyed deceiver, intending to employ underhanded methods to gain control of a galactic shortcut called a wormhole. The shock of this discovery has profound long-ranging effects on both Troi and Ral. Scripted by Hannah Louise Shearer, "The Price" made its American TV debut on November 18, 1989.

Next Generation's final first-run episode of 1989 premiered on November 25 of that year. Written by Sam Rolfe (whose previous credits included such prestigious TV series as Have Gun, Will Travel and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.), "The Vengeance Factor" got under way as Captain Picard attempted to mediate a bitter dispute between a band of space pirates called the Gatherers, and the ruler of their home planet, Acamar. There Picard's peace-keeping mission is imperiled by a mysterious and elusive assassin. Meanwhile, Riker falls in love with Yuta (Lisa Wilcox), the beautiful, enigmatic servant of Acamarian leader Marouk (Nancy Parsons).

James J. Sloyan stars as Setal, a Romulan defector. Taking refuge on the Enterprise, Setal warns Picard of an impending major Romulan offensive designed to regain control of the Neutral Zone. Since any resistance to this offensive would spark a full-scale war, Captain Picard cannot help but question Setal's reliability, as well as his motives. A surprise revelation awaits the crew in this tense Next Generation entry, which was written by Ronald D. Moore and originally telecast January 6, 1990.

News & Interviews for
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season 3

Episodes

First telecast September 30, 1989, this episode served as the third-season opener for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Ken Jenkins guest stars as Dr. Paul Stubbs, an astrophysicist obsessed with completing his latest mission, that of investigating a strange phenomenon in a faraway star system. Stubbs' dogged refusal to be deflected from his course causes him to ignore a computer malfunction that endangers the Enterprise's life support systems. Michael Piller wrote the teleplay from "Evolution," from a story by Michael Wagner and himself.

Responding from a call from the Sheliak Corporate, the Enterprise crew is confronted by hostile Sheliaks at the Tau Cygna Five earth colony. Citing an old treaty, the Sheliaks demand that the human colonists evacuate the planet within four days or face total annihilation. It is up to Data to persuade the intractable colonists to leave...all 15,000 of them. Originally telecast October 7, 1989, "The Ensigns of Command" was written by Melinda M. Snodgrass.

Arriving too late on a rescue mission, the crew finds that the entire Federation colony of Rana IV has been wiped out, save for an elderly couple, Kevin and Rishon Uxbridge (John Anderson, Anne Haney) living in a tiny patch of green. At first willing to accept the Uxbridge's survival as a miracle, Captain Picard soon begins to suspect that there's more to this than meets the eye. Meanwhile, Deanna Troi, who likewise finds something amiss, is suddenly seized with a mysterious and painful illness. Written by Michael Wagner, "Survivors" was originally aired October 14, 1989.

While studying the culture of the primitive Mintakans, a group of Federation anthropologists are injured in a reactor explosion. Rushing provisions to the anthropologists, Captain Picard unknowingly violates the Prime Directive. As a result, he is feted as a God by the Mintakans, who prepare the hapless Deanna Troi as a sacrifice. First telecast October 21, 1989, "Who Watches the Watchers" was written by Richard Manning and Hans Beimler.

Archaeologist Marla Aster (Susan Powell) is killed during an away team investigation of a deserted planet. Feeling responsible for her death, Lt. Worf tries to offer solace to Marla's now-orphaned young son Jeremy (Gabriel Damon). Things take a bizarre turn when Marla suddenly reappears right before Jeremy's eyes, leading to an amazing revelation about the long-dead civilization Marla had been investigating. Written by Ronald D. Moore, "The Bonding" first aired October 28, 1989.

The away team ventures into an asteroid field to investigate a centuries-old Promelian warship. During their absence, the Enterprise is barraged with radiation, causing the ship to lose its power and be held in the thrall of the same booby trap that had destroyed the ancient warship. With time rapidly running out, Picard and Geordi decide upon a desperate strategy, which will either free the ship or kill everyone on board. Ron Roman, Michael Pillar, and Richard Danus collaborated on the script for "The Booby Trap," which originally aired November 4, 1989.

Answering a distress signal from the Federation planet Galorndon Core, Geordi is trapped in a deep pit. Likewise imprisoned is an injured Romulan warrior (John Snyder), the sole survivor of a starship crash. Though neither man trusts the other, Geordi and the warrior are forced to work together to save themselves from their plight. First telecast November 11, 1989, "The Enemy" was cowritten by David Kemper and Michael Pillar.

Counselor Troi falls in love again, this time with handsome Chrysalian delegate Devinioni Ral (Matt McCoy). Alas, the object of Troi's affections is a double-dyed deceiver, intending to employ underhanded methods to gain control of a galactic shortcut called a wormhole. The shock of this discovery has profound long-ranging effects on both Troi and Ral. Scripted by Hannah Louise Shearer, "The Price" made its American TV debut on November 18, 1989.

Next Generation's final first-run episode of 1989 premiered on November 25 of that year. Written by Sam Rolfe (whose previous credits included such prestigious TV series as Have Gun, Will Travel and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.), "The Vengeance Factor" got under way as Captain Picard attempted to mediate a bitter dispute between a band of space pirates called the Gatherers, and the ruler of their home planet, Acamar. There Picard's peace-keeping mission is imperiled by a mysterious and elusive assassin. Meanwhile, Riker falls in love with Yuta (Lisa Wilcox), the beautiful, enigmatic servant of Acamarian leader Marouk (Nancy Parsons).

James J. Sloyan stars as Setal, a Romulan defector. Taking refuge on the Enterprise, Setal warns Picard of an impending major Romulan offensive designed to regain control of the Neutral Zone. Since any resistance to this offensive would spark a full-scale war, Captain Picard cannot help but question Setal's reliability, as well as his motives. A surprise revelation awaits the crew in this tense Next Generation entry, which was written by Ronald D. Moore and originally telecast January 6, 1990.

TNG had already found its own voice in the second season, as it stepped out of the original series' shadow and stood alone as its own entity. Here, it fully developed its potential for the first time, and gave us all a reason to tune in every week.

In my opinion this show eclipses The Original Star Trek series and should be discussed as being one of the best TV shows of all time. Now of course every episode isn't as great as others, but the series in itself leaves absolutely nothing to be desired. Definitely the best Science Fiction TV show ever created!

Season 3 is great, classic Star Trek with fewer dud episodes than the previous seasons.

May 17, 2018

While it has a handful of less than stellar episodes, Season 3 is where TNG really came into its own. With a variety of episodes ranging from time travel adventures to excursions into philosophy, it's a great collection of episodes that rivals even the best of Shatner's era. I loved it so much, that I have a Top 5 instead of a 3: it was REALLY hard to choose favorites.
Top 5 Best Episodes:
1. Yesterday's Enterprise
2. The Best of Both Worlds
3. The Sins of the Father
4. Sarek
5. The Offspring
Bottom 3 Episodes (and only two of these are actually bad):
1. The Vengeance Factor
2. Menage a Troi
3. The Price

A new showrunner who lets the writers finally write character stories and not bland alien-of-the-week garbage does the trick, and the show instantly transforms from 'might be canceled' to 'best show on TV'.

With a fresh uniform and return of a series favourite, Next Generation's third season is a huge step up from it's last, willing to trust it's lead characters to hold their episodic arcs and place an emphasis on the crew's relationships between themselves and their cultures.